AIBU to ask you to help me lose weight?

This sounds great, but you do need to keep it achievable, and not set yourself up to fail. Stopping the binge eating of chocolate should be enough in your case (if you don’t replace it with something else!) and that will be challenging enough. I would aim for that, and starting the running (because that will help you feel better about yourself) and generally trying to eat a bit less full stop - rather than suddenly starting to live like a saint.

I’m vegetarian we tend to eat main meals such as lentil dahl, curry with chicken peas or tofu, chilli with kidney beans. I use things like coconut milk on the Dahl or curries to add fat so it’s more filling, or Greek yoghurt with the chilli.
I also bake a cake for the week, so a chocolate courgette cake or pumpkin cake and make sure it’s low sugar so I will only add a couple of table spoons of honey for sweetness. I also make my own Nutella from dates, cocoa powder, ground hazelnuts and hazelnut milk for a sweet alternative without the refined sugars- these things are quick to make and last a while. I feel it keeps us on track and not feeling the need to buy unhealthy snacks.

I used to eat like that @whereloveis, I definitely have always had a tendency to binge eat and I used to eat all my feelings, sad, happy, stressed, grief, everything made me eat more. I would start the day with biscuits and snack on sugary and snack foods all day and evening.

Things have changed so much for me this year, when I started intermittent fasting I gave up milk and stopped having sweetener in hot drinks so I got used to less sweetness and slowly I gave up biscuits and crisps almost totally. My focus became nutritious and filling food and the weight came off.

I eat and enjoy things I never would have eaten before, skyr yogurt, tuna, sardines, so much fruit and veg and I never snack. I still fast some days for 16 hours but as I’m now trying to maintain I have overnight oats 3-4 times a week for breakfast. I do still go out for meals, enjoy puddings and all of that but in moderation and with an element of control.

I have had one night shift in the last year when the sugar cravings overcame me and I ate loads of custard creams, made me realize the beast inside me will never go completely but I have learned to prepare better and take more high protein snacks with me now when I work nights to avoid that.

Hi, last December I cut out almost all UPF and stick to minimally and unprocessed food. lost 5 stone in less then 6 months and have kept it off so far. No calorie counting. I eat what I like as much as I like. 1/2 hour run and 40 min swim every day.

Well it sounds like it's quite obvious and you know exactly what you need to do. That is shocking.

I agree it does sound like binge eating disorder.

There’s no point dieting, losing weight, then thinking you can go back to your old ways.

I get that people don’t like WW or SW but if you eat what SW tell you, you can lose weight and still be full, without counting anything.

It’s just it is hard to stick to it religiously.

• protein (eggs, tuna, beans, chickpeas etc)
• vegetables
• fruit
• rice, pasta
• baked crisps instead of fried.
• Cut out oils where possible.
• Cut out ready made food and sauces.

Buy a Slimming Works magazine to get the gist of it.

And then give yourselves some treats but only to the equivalent of say a Twist bar a day. No more.

And exercise, walking is excellent if you don’t like the gym.

Agree with other posters who think there are underlying issues here. A few suggestions;

• could you read a book on binge eating disorders, see if there’s any thing you can relate to or useful tips?
• Read Ultra-processed people - it helps explain why is hard to stop eating unhealthy food. Knowledge is power!
• Find another snack to reward yourself! Switch chocolate/sugar to savoury. Cheese and crackers? Or sweet fruit!?
• Practically- don’t buy it if you don’t want to eat it! I just avoid any chocolate aisle and all temptation.
• What about just tracking the amount of sugar you’re eating, rather than total calories? (1500 calories of sugar isn’t going to help you reach your goals)
• Tracking how many different plants you eat- the more plants you are eating, the less processed food you’ll be having. So focusing on positive rather than less good behaviour.
• Time restricted eating. It doesn’t have to be hard. Just set a time you won’t eat after, ensure you leave at least 14hes till breakfast. Loads of benefits- look it up!

I’ve just lost a stone- 11 1/2 stone to 10 1/2- by not eating breakfast and trying to snack less in the afternoon. Still having a slice of homemade cake after dinner every single day though! No calorie counting involved

I make my spicy sauerkraut with
3 stalks celery
Large thumb of ginger
1 large carrot
3 shakes chilli flakes
2 tsps caraway seeds
18g salt. Himalayan salt not table salt as it has anti-caking stuff in.
Cabbage to 900g

Chop up all the veg quite finely and add the seeds, salt and chilli flakes to a large bowl. Mix so the salt is well dispersed. Cover and leave for about an hour. I then bash it well for 3 minutes with the end of a wooden meat tenderiser. There should be a fair bit of liquid in the bottom of the bowl. Pack tightly into a 1 litre kilner jar. Ensure the liquid cover the veg - I use a glass weight. Mine has a vent to release the gas. If you don't have a vented lid you will need to manually let the gas out daily. Store in a warm dark place. I usually leave it for about 4 weeks in the airing cupboard. It's warmest place in the house but not too hot as there is no HWC anymore. When you start 2 weeks should be long enough if you are worried about it or don't want to wait too long. After 4 weeks I decant it into 2 500g jars and keep in fridge. Make sure you get all the liquid into the jars - the best bit. I have about 60g daily at breakfast. There are plenty of YouTube videos to see the technique - that's where I learnt it. You can change the veg and spices. I have used cauliflower and broccoli stalks and added mustard but I prefer the contents above. It is quite spicy and sharp.

I make a cheese sauce with cheddar, parmesan and gruyère for cauliflower. Add some wholegrain mustard.

You need to be filling up on beans, lentils and chick peas. Yoghurt, milk and cheese are also good. Whole grains and veg actually have a decent amount of protein, and the fibre in them will also help to keep you full.

You really don't need to eat meat to get enough protein. Would you consider eating fish once a week if it is responsibly sourced? I have started fish fridays for health reasons during meno, but most of the time i get protein from beans. If you eat them regularly the digestive side effects disapear! 😅

@whereloveis - I am also someone who could easily eat 12 mini rolls aand probably anything else junky that was waiting for me in the cupboard! Am an emotional eater and also I eat to change my mood and at transition times! Stressed with kids? Eat. Just come home from work? Eat. Happy... eat!
so for me losing weight is a huge mindset shift. I have to want to do it and I have to have a plan. Seems like you have both those things.... so now it's just a case of sticking to it.
I signed up to the fast800 because I need a challenge otherwise it feels tooooo slow. I've lost 6kgs in a week - but I'd not be able to do it without the app which has a meal plan bit. (I'm also veggie).
the last time I made such a radical overhaul of my food I did 5:2 and because I also hate calorie counting I basically did 2 days where I didn't eat in the day and had (homemade) soup for dinner as I found that pretty much any soup I made came in user or around that!
not having the sweet stuff in the house also helps.
you can do it!

The only way is to be in a calorie deficit. The easiest way to do that is calorie counting ;and yes - weighing your food. I am the same height as you, Sw 10st 8. Lost 2 stone in 4 months sticking to 1400 calories a day plus exercise.

I find intermittent fasting works well for me 8 hour eating window 16 hour fast. I don't have to calorie count or really think about it I just eat my usual 3 meals in my allotted time. I've nearly lost a stone without really thinking about it.
I would say my diet was already reasonable healthy and I'm conscious of not having lots of sugar so that may contribute to how easy I've found it.

I would just try and cut sugar completely. I actually find it easier just to say no sugar, rather than trying to moderate it. If it’s not in the house it can’t tempt you!

Switch to wholemeal bread, pasta and rice. Weigh the pasta and don’t make any extra. Increase lean protein and veg. Berries instead of fruit. Nuts if you are hungry between meals (also weigh them).

I have just started intermittent fasting. 16:8. I can't believe the difference it has made to cravings and food noise. I still count calories but previously I would give in and overeat but it feels like I have so much more control now. It's amazing.

Three things that worked for me:

1. Smaller portions. I really worked the small plate trick. I thought it wouldn't work but it did.
2. Redefining the word "treat". A treat is now once a month, and it's make-up, posh bubble bath, lingerie, accessories. I never, ever reward myself with food.
3. Three meals a day, no snacks. I do have pudding, after dinner, but it's usually fruit or a yoghurt. Ice cream, sometimes. If it isn't part of a meal it doesn't pass my lips. The whole diet thing - three meals and three snacks is a con. No one needs to eat every two hours.

Good luck with the changes.

I asked by GP for help and was signed up to a weigh loss plan called Second Nature. It is aimed at losing weight, reversing T2 diabetes.

The whole ethos is healthy balanced eating. Low sugar which also means low carbs - you have to go detox for 5 days to withdraw from all the carbs/sugar.

They encourage full fat options as the low fat is full of sugar. I followed it for a few months religiously and lost a stone really easily.

I eat meat so not sure on your veggie options.

I have full fat Greek yoghurt and frozen raspberries for breakfast. I high protein microwave meal for lunch and then cook from scratch for tea. No snacks except for fruit or veg. No crisps, cakes, biscuits or chocolate. They recommend a square or two of dark chocolate if you need to manage a craving.

Any carbs need to be brown - brown rice, brown pasta, brown bread and only one portion a day. Obviously harder when you don't eat meat.

I lost 3st using 5:2 intermittent fasting. No faff calorie counting. On my 2 days I had a regular meal that I knew brought me under the 500 cals: vegan fake burger and a bag of pre-prepared veg to absolutely minimise time spent in the kitchen or thinking about food.

Once you're into the swing of it, it's a pretty easy routine.

I did intermittent fasting 16:8 and I’m more than 4 stone down. My diet has been completely overhauled and I eat a high protein diet now with no snacking. I’m at target but still love the changes I made and rarely crave sugar or snack foods which I used to live on!